You can hide your number on individual calls or block it permanently, depending on your phone type and carrier

Blocking your caller ID means the person you call sees "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your phone number. On most phones, you can do this per call or set it as your default. The method depends on whether you have an iPhone, Android phone, or a landline, and some carriers charge a small monthly fee if you want permanent blocking.

The simplest approach is to dial a code before the number on any call. If you want to hide your number all the time, you can change your phone settings or contact your carrier. Some situations — like calling a business or government office — may require you to unblock your number so they can reach you back.

Key Takeaways

  • On most phones, dial *67 before the number to hide your caller ID for that single call.
  • iPhone users can toggle caller ID off in Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID, which hides your number on all outgoing calls.
  • Android users can hide their number in Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID, though the exact path varies by phone model and carrier.
  • Some carriers charge $3 to $5 per month for permanent caller ID blocking, while the per-call method (*67) is free.
  • Blocking your caller ID does not prevent emergency services from seeing your number when you call 911.

How to block caller ID on a single call

The fastest way to hide your number on one call is to dial *67 immediately before the phone number. For example, if you are calling 555-123-4567, you would dial *67-555-123-4567. This works on most landlines and mobile phones in the United States and Canada.

After you dial *67, the recipient will see "Unknown," "Private," or "Blocked" instead of your number. If the call goes to voicemail, they still will not see your number. This method is free and works every time, though some businesses and government offices may reject calls from blocked numbers automatically.

If *67 does not work on your phone, try #31# instead. This is less common in the US but works on some carriers and international networks. You dial it the same way: #31#-555-123-4567.

How to hide your caller ID on all calls with iPhone

Open Settings, then tap Phone. Scroll down and tap Show My Caller ID. Toggle the switch off. From that point forward, your number will be hidden on every call you make until you turn the setting back on.

This setting hides your number even when you call businesses, government offices, or services that normally reject blocked calls. Some of these places may not accept your call or may ask you to call back with your number visible. If that happens, go back to Settings > Phone > Show My Caller ID and toggle it back on for that specific call.

How to hide your caller ID on all calls with Android

The exact steps vary by phone model and carrier, but the general path is Settings > Call Settings > Additional Settings > Caller ID. Look for an option that says "Hide Number," "Block Caller ID," or "Show Caller ID" and select the option to hide your number.

Some Android phones use slightly different names for these menus. If you cannot find Call Settings, try Settings > Apps > Phone > Permissions, or search "Caller ID" in your Settings search bar. Your carrier's customer service line can confirm the exact path for your specific phone model if you get stuck.

Permanent blocking through your carrier

If you want your number hidden on all calls and do not want to change your phone settings, you can contact your carrier directly. Most carriers offer a service called "Caller ID Blocking" or "Anonymous Call Rejection" that hides your number by default. The cost is usually $3 to $5 per month, though some carriers include it free with certain plans.

Call your carrier's customer service number (on your bill or their website) and ask about permanent caller ID blocking. They will activate it on your account, and it takes effect within a few hours. You can usually turn it off at any time by calling back or through your online account.

One advantage of carrier-level blocking is that it works on all devices you use with that phone number, including VoIP services or forwarded calls. The disadvantage is the monthly cost and the fact that some services will not accept your call if your number is blocked at the carrier level.

When you cannot block your caller ID

Emergency calls to 911 always transmit your real number, even if you have blocking turned on. This is a legal requirement so emergency services can locate you if the call is disconnected.

Some businesses, banks, and government offices will not accept calls from blocked numbers. If you need to reach them, you will have to unblock your number for that call. On iPhone, toggle Show My Caller ID back on. On Android, turn off the Caller ID hiding setting. With *67, simply do not dial it before that particular number.

If you are using a VoIP service like Google Voice, Skype, or Zoom Phone, the blocking options are different. Check your app settings or contact the service directly, as they may not support the standard *67 code or carrier-level blocking.

Why someone might want to block their caller ID

People block their caller ID for many reasons: to avoid unwanted callbacks when calling a business, to maintain privacy when reaching out to a service, or to prevent their number from being added to marketing lists. Some people use it when calling a number they are unsure about, so they can see if it is legitimate before giving out their real number.

Blocking your caller ID is legal in the United States and most countries. However, repeatedly calling someone and blocking your number to harass or threaten them is illegal. If you are using caller ID blocking for legitimate privacy reasons, there is no legal issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 work on all phone carriers?

*67 works on most US and Canadian carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Rogers. Some smaller carriers or VoIP services may not support it. If *67 does not work, try #31# or contact your carrier to confirm they support per-call blocking.

Can someone still trace my number if I block my caller ID?

If you are calling someone who has the technical means to trace calls (like law enforcement), they can still identify your number even if it is blocked. Caller ID blocking only hides your number from the person you are calling on their phone display. It does not hide it from your carrier or from law enforcement with a warrant.

Will blocking my caller ID prevent telemarketers from calling me back?

Blocking your caller ID when you call a business will not prevent them from calling you back if they have your number through other means. If you are concerned about marketing calls, do not provide your number in the first place, or register with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov.

Does blocking my caller ID cost anything?

Using *67 is free. Permanent blocking through your carrier costs $3 to $5 per month on most plans, though some carriers include it free. Changing your phone settings to hide your number is also free.

What happens if I block my caller ID and the person does not answer?

If your call goes to voicemail, the recipient will not see your number there either. They will only see that a blocked or unknown number called. If you need them to call you back, you will have to unblock your number or call again without blocking.